Henry Doktorski: Recital at the Riford Library in La Jolla, California

Recital at the Riford Library in La Jolla, California

Henry performs at the Riford Library in La Jolla, California.

December 9, 2018: Henry performed a solo recital at the Riford Library in La Jolla, California. His program consisted of nearly a dozen pieces: transcriptions of classical works and original works for the accordion which have become classics in the repertoire.

• Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Hungarian Dance No. 5 (arranged by Anthony Galla-Rini)

• Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Ave Maria

• Vittorio Monti (1868-1922): Czárdás

• Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992): Oblivion

• Henry’s own Theme and Variation on Richard Rodgers’ “Edelweiss”

• Pietro Frosini (1885-1951): Olive Blossoms

• Pietro Deiro (1888-1954): Celestina Polka

• Pietro Deiro: Quick Silver Novelette

• Guido Deiro (1886-1950): My Florence

• Guido Deiro: Deiro Rag

• Guido Deiro: Sharpshooter’s March

Henry’s recital at Riford Library was well attended; at times, audience members were seen standing in the back. Henry’s accordion student, Biagio Agostinelli and his wife Wendy, assisted by passing out programs and selling compact discs. After the recital, one audience member, a professional church organist, gifted Henry with a mint-condition copy of the 64-page Galla-Rini Method for Piano Accordion, published in 1933 by Chicago Musical Instrument Company. Dr. Mitsuo Tomita, a Family Medicine Specialist in San Diego, and a dedicated volunteer concert programmer for the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, and the San Diego Libraries, who helped arrange Henry’s free concert at the La Jolla Public Library, noted, “Excellent concert today! An excellent program and engaging comments by Henry.” Henry’s accordion student, Biagio Agostinelli, agreed, “It was fantastic listening to you playing!”

Photos by Biagio Agostinelli.